Most of us have essentials that we tick off our list when we are packing for a holiday such as passports, money, guide books and sun cream. However, some of us also take away items that might be considered slightly unusual by others…

We asked around at TravelSupermarket HQ to find out what unusual items we can’t live without when we jet off. Here’s what we found:

Kevin Pratt: Guitar strings – two sets

Guitar players find summer hols abroad a bit of a bind. All that time to practise, but you can’t take your guitar because that means putting more money in Mike O’Leary’s pocket.

And the chances of buying a cheap second-hand one at your destination are low at best. So this year I asked the agent if she knew anyone who could loan me a guitar – and, result!

The only problem is, because I’m left-handed, it’ll need restringing when I get there, and re-stringing back again when I leave. But don’t fret…

Gareth Morris: Notebook

One thing I never travel without is a good quality, hard bound notebook. Even the best holiday memories fade over time and I find it handy to document the details of any trip, especially if I am travelling alone without another pair of eyes.

The order of events, new place names, people I meet, funny things they have said or things I have learnt about a new destination all get scribbled down. They’re nice to look back over and are, in many ways, more valuable to me than holiday photos.

Anna Barker: Beauty products

As well as the standard holiday check-list essentials – passport, currency and sun cream – my holiday must-haves are packed with a little vanity!

With thick hair that takes some serious taming in the UK, I always take leave-in conditioner on trips abroad. You can get specific ‘holiday hair’ conditioners with UV protection to prevent your hair drying out in the sun.

I spritz some on during the day to protect it while sunbathing and it also keeps my hair under control after washing it for an evening out. It can even create a tousled beach-hair look with minimal effort when the straighteners lose the battle with humidity!

After-sun with tan maintainer is also a must, as it soothes and cools my skin as well as giving me a natural glow that I struggle to get from the sunshine alone. And my last holiday essential? It has to be a camera. I love snapping away and capturing every moment of our precious time away.

Bob Atkinson: Scented candles

I always travel with scented tea lights and a small packet of matches. So many hotels or apartments have ‘unusual’ smells when you check in, so lighting up a favourite candle on arrival soon has the room smelling more acceptable.

I also never travel without a small repair kit of needle, thread, tape, small plasters and safety pins. This has saved me many a time with wardrobe and bag malfunctions.

Susan Donnan: Straw beach mat

A few years ago when we were on holiday in Ithaka, we bought a straw beach mat that enabled us to lie on the stony beaches without it being too uncomfortable. It’s quite big, but folds up flat and small and looks like a bag.

We take it away with us every year now as we always hunt out little coves where there are no sun loungers. I’d be sad if it got lost as I’ve not seen any like it for sale since. It’ll be packed in my suitcase for this year’s holiday to Kefalonia!

Cathy Toogood: Carrier bags

As strange as it sounds, I always pack at least three plastic carrier bags in my suitcase for any holiday (and sometimes I collect them while I’m away too). This habit started when I InterRailed around Europe with all of my travelling possessions in a backpack and needed a way of quickly pulling out shorts or my pyjamas, for example, without having to unpack my whole bag – I simply put each clothing type in a separate carrier bag and if I needed something, I knew which one to pull out.

Now, I still find the humble carrier bag to be useful whether I need to put wet swimming stuff in my case without soaking everything else, keep a smart top or dress pristine or to pack anything that may potentially leak. Plus, when clothes are dirty, I put them all in one big plastic bag as the holiday progresses ready to tip into the washing basket when I get home.

Emma Welsby: Food

When I go on holiday I have to make sure that I pack gluten free and dairy free food for fear of not being able to find much whilst I am abroad!

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